Council sued after pensioner dies from hoist fall

A family of a resident who died after falling from a hoist is looking to sue a council near Dundee for medical negligence.

Grace Rennie did not recover after falling from her mobility hoist while in the care of Angus Council staff at her house in Arbroath three years ago.

An investigation was launched after Ms Rennie’s death and the workers who had been in the house with her were taken off duty during the probe.

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According to a local newspaper the family could receive more than £100,000 if successful.

A spokesman from law firm Digby Brown, which is representing the family, told the Evening Telegraph: “We can confirm that we are acting for member’s of Grace Rennie’s family and that the case has been raised in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. This was a tragic event. However, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further as the legal process is ongoing.”

Last month in a separate incident, an investigation into the death of a care home resident who fell while being transferred on a hoist found failures in the hoist system, including a lack of size markings on harnesses, an inadequate system for removing old harnesses and a “one size fits all” approach.

Chilton Care Homes in Sudbury, Suffolk was fined £60,000 after an 89-year-old resident died after falling from the hoist while being transferred by two care workers using a hoist.